State pardon: Group seeks minutes of meeting

An anti-corruption group, the Say No Campaign, has asked the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, to provide it with a copy of the minutes of the National Council of State meeting where the decision to grant state pardon to some convicted Nigerians was taken.

Among those granted pardon at the meeting, held on March 12, was former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diprieye S.P. Alamiyeseigha and six others.

The group made the request on March 21 based on sections 1(1), 1(2) and 3 of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 2011.

It said the demand was due to the need for Nigerians to know how “this ridiculous decision” was taken.

The group said it was against the backdrop of denials by some members of the National Council of State that the pardons were not discussed.

The request, signed by Ezenwa Nwagwu and Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), added: “If this assertion is true, it raises serious question on the legal validity of this decision and effectively annuls these pardons.

“We are hoping that the SGF will expeditiously attend to this request in the interest of rule of law and transparency.

“We also wish to reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of this pardon as expressed by the civil society groups working on anti-corruption press statement of March 14th 2013.

“The Say No Campaign is a platform of Nigerians committed to fighting corruption and impunity.

“It is committed to ensuring not only the reversal of the pardon granted to persons convicted for corruption but also to promote good governance and rule of law in Nigeria.”